Mitral valve repair using a semi-rigid posterior band: a 10-year Japanese single-center experience of 244 patients.

Background: Mitral valve repair (MVr) is an established procedure for patients who require surgery for primary mitral regurgitation (PMR). The Colvin-Galloway Future Band (CGFB) is a semi-rigid posterior band expected to improve the clinical outcomes of MVr. However, information on the hemodynamic and functional performance and long-term outcomes of CGFB is limited. We evaluated the quality, durability, and clinical performance after MVr using CGFB for PMR as the cohort study. Methods: A total of 244 patients who underwent MVr with CGFB were enrolled. Clinical and echocardiographic assessments were performed (mean follow-up period, 4.0±2.4 years). Results: Posterior mitral leaflet resection was the most common MVr procedure. CGFBs measuring 28 mm (35.2%) and 30 mm (36.5%) were used. The incidence of systolic anterior motion (SAM) was 1.6%. A total of 93.4% of the patients had no or trace MR at discharge. Over 90% of patients had no or mild MR at the last follow-up. The mean pressure gradient and mitral valve orifice area one year after MVr ranged between 2.6 and 3.6 mmHg and 2.3 and 3.4 cm2, respectively. At follow-up, 85.4% of the patients were New York Heart Association class I. Three patients underwent repeat mitral valve surgery. Conclusions: The CGFB demonstrates satisfactory quality and durability in MVr for PMR. Other advantages include a low occurrence of SAM and acceptable hemodynamic outcomes, particularly in patients requiring a smaller annuloplasty device.

Early thrombus formation including hypo-attenuated leaflet thrombosis after surgical bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the occurrence, predictors, and outcomes of hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) and thrombus outside the prosthetic valve following surgical aortic valve replacement. METHODS: A total of 118 patients underwent surgical aortic valve replacement with bioprosthetic valves between July 2020 and June 2022. Sixty-two (52.5%) patients, which is a fairly high number of patients, underwent cardiac computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiography one week after surgery. Patients were divided into two groups, those with HALT (n = 14) and those without HALT (n = 48). RESULTS: Of the 62 patients who underwent cardiac computed tomography, HALT was observed in 14 (22.5%) patients during the very early postoperative phase. Reduced leaflet motion was observed in two of the 14 patients. The low-attenuation areas were located outside the prosthetic valve in 10 cases (71.4%) in the HALT group and in 14 cases (29.2%) in the non-HALT group. More than 50% of patients (57.1%) with HALT and 79.2% without HALT were administered warfarin. Neither in-hospital deaths nor postoperative thromboembolic events were observed during hospitalization. No patient had a mean pressure gradient > 20 mmHg in either group. CONCLUSION: HALT was observed in one-fifth of the cases after surgical aortic valve replacement during the very early postoperative phase in an institution wherein administration of continuous heparin infusion after surgery is a standard practice. HALT did not affect the early prognosis or incidence of cerebral infarction.

Review of Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Mechanical circulatory support has been an indispensable treatment for severe heart failure. While the development of a total artificial heart has failed, left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have evolved from extracorporeal to implantable types. The first generation implantable LVAD (pulsatile device) was used as a bridge to transplantation, and demonstrated improvement in survival rate and activity of daily living. The evolution from the first-generation (pulsatile device) to the second-generation (continuous flow device: axial flow pump and centrifugal pump) has resulted in many clinical benefits by reducing mechanical failures and minimizing device size. Furthermore, third-generation devices, which use a moving impeller suspended by magnetic and/or hydrodynamic forces, have improved overall device reliability and durability. Unfortunately, there are still many device-related complications, and further device development and improvement of patient management methods are required. However, we expect to see further development of implantable VADs, including for destination therapy, in future.

Hemodynamic and clinical performance of the 25-mm Medtronic Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis in the mitral position.

The 25-mm Medtronic Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis (MB25) is the smallest bioprosthesis that has been approved for use in the mitral position in Japan. Various studies have reported satisfactory hemodynamic performance and good long-term outcomes of the Medtronic Mosaic porcine bioprosthesis. However, the hemodynamic and clinical performances of the MB25 in the mitral position remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic and clinical performance of the MB25 in mitral valve replacement (MVR). Twenty patients who underwent MVR using the MB25 between February 2013 and April 2018 were studied. We evaluated the hemodynamic performance of the MB25, cardiac chamber size, cardiac function, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) using echocardiography during follow-up. The study outcomes were major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and all-cause mortality. Sixteen patients (80%) had a patient prosthesis mismatch defined as an index effective orifice area of ≤ 1.2 cm2/m2. The left atrial dimension was significantly reduced after surgery (p = 0.0282). The mean pressure gradients (MPG) in the mitral position were 5.5 ± 1.7 mmHg at discharge and 4.2 ± 1.3 mmHg at 1 year postoperatively. The MPG in the mitral position significantly decreased during the follow-up period (p = 0.0489). Systolic PAP significantly improved postoperatively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 87, 79, and 70%, respectively. No cardiac death occurred. There were no MACEs or reports of structural valve degeneration during the follow-up period. The hemodynamic and clinical performances of the MB25 in the mitral position were satisfactory as the smallest biological mitral valve. The MB25 is a reasonable option for MVR to reduce the surgical difficulty in high-risk patients with an advanced age, a small body size or MAC and when recurrent MVR or complex procedures are performed.

Evaluation of hemodynamics after mitral valve replacement with the St Jude Medical Epic bioprosthesis: a Japanese single-center experience.

To assess the early hemodynamics after mitral valve replacement (MVR) using the St Jude Medical (SJM) Epic bioprosthesis. MVR was performed using the SJM Epic bioprosthesis in 35 patients from June 2018 to April 2020; three patients were excluded because the postoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) data were unavailable. Data from postoperative TTE at 1 week and 3 months after the procedure were reviewed. The mean mitral pressure gradient (mMPG) was calculated using a continuous wave Doppler method. Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) was calculated using a pulse wave Doppler method. The effective orifice area (EOA) was measured from pressure half time. There were 12 men (37.5%) and 20 women (62.5%) with a mean age of 75.9 years (61-88 years). The mean body surface area was 1.51 ± 0.22 cm2. The 25 mm and 27 mm valves were used in more than 50% of cases. The mMPG was 4.9 ± 1.7 mmHg and 5.4 ± 1.6 mmHg at 1 week and 3 months after surgery, respectively. EOA was 2.18 ± 0.50 cm2 and 2.31 ± 0.59 cm2 at 1 week and 3 months after surgery, respectively. The peak velocity of the LVOT (n = 22) was 103.3 ± 21.3 cm/s and 106.8 ± 27.4 cm/s at 1 week and 3 months after surgery, respectively. No findings suggested paravalvular regurgitation and LVOT obstruction. Using the SJM Epic bioprosthesis in MVR resulted in satisfactory hemodynamics in the early postoperative period, even with small valve sizes. Further accumulation of cases and evidence, including mid- to long-term results, is required in the future.

Impact of the Trifecta bioprosthetic valve in patients with low-flow severe aortic stenosis.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valve disorder in advanced age. Previous reports have shown that low-flow status of the left ventricle is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality after surgery. The Trifecta bioprosthesis has recently shown favorable hemodynamic performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Trifecta bioprosthesis, which has a large effective orifice area, in patients with low-flow severe AS who have a poor prognosis. We retrospectively evaluated 94 consecutive patients with severe AS who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). Patients were divided into two groups according to the stroke volume index (SVI): low-flow (LF) group (SVI < 35 ml/m2, n = 22) and normal-flow (NF) group (SVI ≥ 35 ml/m2, n = 72). Patients' characteristics and early and mid-term results were compared between the two groups. There were no differences in patients' characteristics, except for systolic blood pressure (LF:NF = 120:138 mmHg, p < 0.01) and the rate of atrial fibrillation between the groups. A preoperative echocardiogram showed that the pressure gradient was higher in the NF group than in the LF group, but aortic valve area was similar. The Trifecta bioprosthesis size was similar in both groups. The operative outcomes were not different between the groups. Severe patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) (< 0.65 cm2/m2) was not observed in either of the groups. There were no significant differences in mid-term results between the two groups. The favorable hemodynamic performance of the Trifecta bioprosthesis appears to have the similar outcomes in the LF and NF groups. AVR with the Trifecta bioprosthesis should be considered for avoidance of PPM, particularly in AS patients with LV dysfunction.

Clinical outcome of cardiac surgery in patients with remitted or active hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common primary cancers worldwide. HCC has unique characteristics such as co-existing chronic liver damage and a high recurrence rate. A negative impact on the surgical outcome due to these backgrounds could be expected. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of cardiac surgery in these patients. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2019, 16 patients with remitted cancer and 5 patients with active HCC who underwent open heart surgery were studied. The clinical data were retrospectively evaluated from hospital records. Follow-up information was collected via telephone interviews. RESULTS: The major cause of HCC was viral hepatitis. Eighteen patients (86%) were classified as having Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis. The mean model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was 7.2 ± 5.2. There was no 30-day mortality. During follow-up, 11 patients died due to HCC. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 80.0, 42.5, and 22.3%, respectively. A univariate analysis identified a higher preoperative MELD score and lower serum cholinesterase levels as prognostic factors for long-term survival. CONCLUSION: We could safely perform cardiac surgery in selected patients with remitted and active HCC. The postoperative life expectancy of these patients was limited but acceptable.

Aortic valve replacement with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting in very elderly patients aged 85 years and older.

Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common structural heart valve disease affecting the aging population. Catheter-based heart valve interventions are less invasive and very useful for very elderly patients. However, we often consider open heart surgery for these patients because of anatomical reasons and co-existing cardiac diseases, i.e., severe coronary artery disease. We aimed to analyze the outcomes of very elderly patients aged ≥ 85 years undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) with or without coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Twenty-nine very elderly patients aged ≥ 85 years who underwent AVR with CABG (n = 11, Group AC) or isolated AVR (n = 18, Group A) were examined. The overall mean age of the patients was 87.2 ± 2.6 (range 85-94) years. The estimated operative mortality rate, calculated using the Japan score, EuroSCORE II, and STS risk score, was 5.72%-10.88% in Group AC and 5.63%-8.30% in Group A. Aortic cross-clamp time (126.5 ± 29.0 vs. 96.9 ± 29.2 min, p = 0.016) was significantly longer in Group AC than in Group A. Although the major morbidity rate was higher in Group AC than in Group A (36% vs. 6%, p = 0.0336), the length of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay was comparable between both groups. There was no 30-day and hospital mortality in both groups. Eleven patients died during follow-up (senility, 5; cerebrovascular events, 2; renal failure, 1; unknown, 3). There were no significant differences in survival rates during follow-up (log-rank p value = 0.1051). The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year survival rates were 91%, 80%, 69%, 69% and 69%, respectively, in Group AC and 94%, 94%, 94%, 94% and 88%, respectively, in Group A. In conclusion, AVR with or without CABG could be safely performed in carefully selected very elderly patients with acceptable early- and long-term results. AVR with CABG in very elderly patients aged ≥ 85 offers similar results to isolated AVR in terms of 30-day mortality, hospital mortality, and long-term survival.

Left ventricular apical pseudoaneurysm with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis.

We report an 83-year-old man with a mycotic left ventricular apical pseudoaneurysm and aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Enterococcus spp. Mycotic left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is very rare and is associated with a high risk of rupture. Here, we report the clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of a case of mycotic left ventricular pseudoaneurysm to raise awareness regarding this unusual and potentially fatal complication.

Long term results and predictors of left ventricular function recovery after aortic valve replacement for chronic aortic regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES: In most patients with aortic regurgitation (AR), aortic valve replacement (AVR) improves left ventricular (LV) function, but some patients will not have favorable remodeling. Our objectives were to review long term clinical results of AVR for AR and to examine what factors affect the normalization of LV function after AVR for chronic AR. METHODS: Between 1989 and 2010, 177 patients underwent isolated AVR for chronic pure AR. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on indexed end-systolic LV diameter (iESD): Group L (iESD) ≥25 mm/m(2)) (130 patients) and Group S (iESD <25 mm/m(2)) (47 patients). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups in late mortality, freedom from cardiac-related death and rehospitalization for heart failure at late follow up after operation. At postoperative follow-up, 16% of patients had not recovered normal LV systolic function. By means of multivariate analysis, iESD and cardiac index (CI) were independent predictors of recovery of LV function and iESD >26.7 mm/m(2) and CI <2.71 l/min/m(2) were the best cut-off values. CONCLUSIONS: Early and late surgical results of AVR for chronic AR were good, but for the preservation of postoperative normal LV function, AVR for AR patients should be performed before iESD reaches 26.7 mm/m(2).

Preoperative chronic kidney disease as a strong predictor of postoperative infection and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of preoperative kidney dysfunction (ie, chronic kidney disease (CKD)) on postoperative cardiovascular events, infection, acute kidney injury and hospital mortality in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: A multi-institutional retrospective study was performed at 14 hospitals of adult patients undergoing isolated CABG from 2007 to 2008 (n=1,522). We classified CKD level according to preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): normal, eGFR >90 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2); mild, eGFR 60-90 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2); moderate, eGFR 30-59 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2); and severe, eGFR <30 ml·min(-1)·1.73 m(-2), and assessed postoperative outcome. Preoperative CKD distribution was as follows: normal, n=121 (8%); mild, n=713 (47%); moderate, n=515 (34%); and severe, n=169 (11%). Risk of infection was strongly correlated with CKD level (normal, 3.3%; mild, 7.0%; moderate, 8.3%; severe, 17.0%; P<0.01). The risk of in-hospital death was also strongly correlated with CKD level (normal, 1.7%; mild, 1.0%; moderate, 1.6%; severe, 5.9%; P<0.01). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, CKD level was identified as a significant risk factor for postoperative infection, acute kidney injury, and in-hospital death. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced preoperative CKD is a strong predictor of postoperative infection, acute kidney injury and in-hospital death after CABG.

Gum chewing enhances early recovery of bowel function following transperitoneal abdominal aortic surgery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postoperative bowel dysfunction is still a major unsolved problem following transperitoneal abdominal aortic surgery. We conducted this study to establish if gum chewing during the postoperative period promotes recovery of bowel function following abdominal aortic surgery. METHODS: The subjects were 44 patients who underwent elective abdominal aortic surgery. The patients were allocated to a control group (n = 21), who received standard postoperative care, or a "gum group" (n = 23), who received standard postoperative care and were also given gum to chew three times a day from postoperative day (POD) 0-5. RESULTS: The patient characteristics, intraoperative, and postoperative care were equivalent in both groups. Flatus was passed on POD 1.49 in the gum group and on POD 2.35 in the control group (P = .0004) and the time to oral intake was 3.09 days in the gum group and 3.86 days in the control group (P = .023). The number of days to full mobilization in the hospital room was 3.35 versus 5.59 for the gum and control groups, respectively (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Gum chewing enhances early recovery of bowel function following transperitoneal abdominal aortic surgery. Moreover, it is a physiologically sound, safe, and an inexpensive part of the postoperative care.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on outcomes in Japanese patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There have been no large-scale studies on the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on outcomes in Japanese patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS AND SUBJECTS: A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was conducted in 14 Japanese centers. All adult patients who underwent isolated CABG from 2007 to 2008 were included (n=1522, mean age: 68.5years). The definitions of DM were all patients admitted with diagnosis of DM and preoperative glycated hemoglobin (Hb) A1c≥6.5%. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the risk of morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: There were 849 DM and 572 non-DM patients. Preoperative mean HbA1c were 7.1% in the DM group and 5.7% in the non-DM group (p<0.0001). Preoperative, intraoperative, and 3-day average postoperative blood glucose (BG) were 146mg/dl, 172mg/dl, and 168mg/dl in the DM group, and 103mg/dl, 140mg/dl, and 136mg/dl in the non-DM group (all p<0.0001). Although there were no significant differences in postoperative cardiovascular events, the incidence of infection was significantly higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group (9.2% vs 6.1%, p=0.036) on the univariate analysis. The all-cause death was also relatively higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group (2.1% vs 1.1%, p=0.12), and this was likely related to infection. CONCLUSION: DM patients had worse perioperative BG control, higher incidence of infection, and higher mortality than non-DM patients. These results indicate that perioperative BG control guidelines should be standardized to obtain better surgical outcomes in Japanese DM patients.

Disc wear and entrapment in a Starr-Edwards mitral caged-disc valve.

A case of wear and entrapment of a polyethylene disc observed in a Starr-Edwards (SE) mitral caged-disc valve at 37 years after implantation is reported. A 66-year-old woman who had undergone mitral valve replacement with a SE disc valve 37 years previously was admitted to the authors' hospital. Cinefluoroscopy showed the polyethylene disc of the SE valve to have impinged against a calcified mass on the left ventricular posterior wall, causing a tipping motion of the disc during opening. The valve was successfully replaced at surgery. A macroscopic examination of the excised valve revealed wear of the polyethylene disc at sites where the disc abutted the cage struts, and where it impinged on the calcified mass. The long-term durability of the SE caged-disc valves has been favorable; however, when implanted for over 20 years, they should be carefully followed up.

Concurrent submitral left ventricular aneurysm and an aneurysm of the sinus of valsalva: report of a case.

We herein describe a rare case of a concurrent submitral left ventricular (LV) aneurysm and an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva in a 65-year-old Japanese woman. The patient had a history of mitral valve replacement (MVR) for mitral regurgitation caused by a submitral LV aneurysm at the age of 58. At the time of the MVR, the orifice of the submitral LV aneurysm without thrombi was beneath the posterior leaflet, but surgical repair of the submitral LV aneurysm was not attempted. Although the patient was asymptomatic, when she underwent an echocardiogram at 65 years of age an aneurysm of the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva was detected. However, echocardiography performed before the initial operation had shown that the aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva was coexistent with the submitral LV aneurysm. Since the submitral LV aneurysm revealed no progressive enlargement during the 7 years, patch closure of the aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva alone was successfully performed.

Twelve-year experience with the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial aortic valve at a single Japanese center.

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term results of implantation of the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial (CEP) valve in the aortic position. Between January 1996 and December 2007, 244 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement using the CEP valve were enrolled in this study. A 19-mm valve was used in 39 patients, a 21-mm valve in 94 patients, a 23-mm valve in 81 patients, and a 25-mm valve in 30 patients. The early and the late results were evaluated. Furthermore, echocardiographic examination was performed at follow-up. There were 5 early deaths, with an early mortality rate of 2.0%. Follow-up was performed in 95.4% of the survivors of the operation for a mean period of 4.1 years. Actuarial survival rates at 5, 10, and 12 years were 85.3 ± 2.8, 80.0 ± 3.7 and 70.0 ± 9.8%, respectively. Thromboembolism was observed in 6 patients, endocarditis in 2 patients, reoperation in 4 patients, and structural valve deterioration in 2 patients. Actuarial freedoms from thromboembolism, endocarditis, and reoperation at 10 years were 96.9 ± 0.14, 97.7 ± 0.16, and 97.0 ± 0.16%, respectively. Echocardiographic examination revealed that the pressure gradients across the valve prosthesis for valves of each size were acceptable. Left ventricular mass index decreased significantly in all valve sizes. The long-term results of implantation of the CEP bioprosthesis in the aortic position were satisfactory. The CEP bioprosthesis maintained its hemodynamic performance even as late as 10 years after implantation.

Heart valve surgery in octogenarians: operative and long-term results.

This study was performed to evaluate surgical outcomes in octogenarian patients undergoing valve surgery. Sixty patients (mean age 82.3 ± 1.9 years) who underwent valve surgery were reviewed. Aortic valve disease was found in 65% of the patients. Preoperatively, 20% of the patients were in NYHA class IV. An urgent operation and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting were performed in ten patients each. A bioprosthetic valve was exclusively used for valve replacement except in two patients. Mitral valve repair was done in seven patients. Operative mortality was 13.3% for the period. No risk factors for operative mortality were detected by multivariate analysis; however, urgent operation, preoperative NYHA class IV, preoperative renal dysfunction, perioperative use of an intra-aortic balloon pumping, and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time had significant effects on operative mortality. The actuarial survival rate at 1 and 3 years after surgery was 82.6 and 71.5%, respectively, and 97.6% of late survivors reported that their activity level was equal to or better than the preoperative level. Valve surgery can be performed in octogenarian patients with acceptable mortality, good long-term results, and good quality of life. Early referral to surgery should be important to obtain a better postoperative outcome.

Postoperative left ventricular mass regression after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Small valve size and prosthetic patient mismatch are both considered to have harmful effects on residual left ventricular hypertrophy after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis. In general, it is believed that the effective orifice area index of the prosthesis must not be less than 0.85 cm(2)/m(2) in order to avoid prosthetic patient mismatch. On the other hand, studies have shown that valve type and valve size had no effects on postoperative left ventricular mass (LVM). The objective of this report was to examine the relationships between patient characteristics or the prosthetic valve and postoperative LVM. METHODS: To evaluate the factors that influence postoperative LVM, we formulated the hypothesis that postoperative LVM is proportional to the sum total of pressure at the prosthetic valve orifice and inner surface area of the left ventricle in systole. We present a conceptually new index for postoperative LVM and compare the index with postoperative LVM. RESULTS: The results indicated a strong correlation between the new index and postoperative LVM six years after surgery (r(2) =0.67, p < 0.0001). As might be expected, LVM increased gradually as the value of the new index increased. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study indicate that postoperative left ventricular hypertrophy can be avoided by preventing postoperative hypertension in patients without left ventricular dilatation and an effective orifice area index is greater than 0.77 cm(2)/m(2).

Edge-to-edge repair for mitral regurgitation: a clinical and exercise echocardiographic study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The durability and potential for creating functional mitral stenoses are major concerns in the edge-to-edge (E-to-E) repair of mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS: Valve repair for MR was performed using the classical Carpentier technique in 120 patients (group C), and with the E-to-E technique in 37 patients (group E). A ring annuloplasty was performed in all patients. The mid-term results were examined and exercise echocardiography was conducted. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the two groups with regards to early and late mortality rates, actuarial survival rate and valve-related complication-free rate at five years after surgery. Postoperatively, MR was decreased significantly in both groups. Exercise echocardiography was undertaken in 35 operative survivors (20 from group C, 15 from group E). At peak exercise, the mean transmitral pressure gradient (MTPG) increased significantly in both groups. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) was also significantly elevated, but still within the accepted upper limits in both groups. The mitral valve area (MVA) showed no significant increase in either group. At peak exercise there were no significant differences in MTPG, SPAP and MVA between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Edge-to-edge repair is equally effective and durable as a conventional repair using the Carpentier technique. A mitral valve redesigned by E-to-E repair with ring annuloplasty may be slightly restrictive compared to a normal healthy mitral valve under exercise conditions; however, the hemodynamic performance did not differ significantly from that of a valve repaired with the Carpentier technique. These hemodynamics were not related to the use of E-to-E repair per se as the only causal factor, but rather to the ring annuloplasty.

Left ventricular-right atrial communication following tricuspid annuloplasty.

A 71-year-old woman was admitted for examination of a heart murmur and anemia. She had a history of mitral valve replacement and tricuspid ring annuloplasty 8 months prior to admission. A new systolic murmur was heard, and echocardiography showed a high-velocity jet originating from the left ventricular outflow tract to the right atrium and a small defect between the left ventricle and the right atrium. No periprosthetic leaks were detected in the mitral position. At operation, a communication just beneath the detached prosthetic ring at the anterior-septal commissure of the tricuspid valve, and a jet of bright red blood entering the right atrium through the defect at the atrial septum just cephalad to the commissure, were found. After removing the ring, the defect was closed using a mattress suture. In this case, the tricuspid annuloplasty ring was probably placed on the atrio-ventricular portion of the membranous septum, rather than the tricuspid annulus, at the antero-septal commissure of the tricuspid valve in the previous operation, and its dehiscence may have created a tear in the atrio-ventricular membranous septum, leading to left ventricular-right atrial communication.